EGHAREVBA, JOSEPH OSAGIE

This study focused on mental health awareness and stigma among students and staff in the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Benin. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A total of five (5) research questions were formulated to guide the investigation. The population of the study comprised 3,194 students across all departments within the Faculty of Social Sciences. The sample size consisted of 500 respondents, distributed as follows: 100 from Sociology and Anthropology, 100 from Social Work, 100 from Political Science, 100 from Economics and Statistics, 25 from Geography, and 75 from Public Administration. A structured questionnaire was used as the primary instrument for data collection. Data obtained were analyzed statistically and presented in tables showing frequencies and percentages of responses. Findings from the study revealed the level of mental health awareness and stigma among both students and faculty members. The study also identified various ways to control stigma within the faculty and proposed recommendations to enhance mental health promotion and reduce discrimination. These include: institutionalizing mental health education, establishing and strengthening support systems, implementing regular awareness campaigns, encouraging peer support initiatives, training faculty and administrative staff, and engaging university leadership in mental health advocacy